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The Whitecaps lost five players to international duty, leaving them short-handed and exhausted over a condensed section of the schedule.

Canada Day fireworks were still 48 hours away, but Vancouver Whitecaps coach Marc Dos Santos lit off a few post-game pyrotechnics in the wake of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders.

The Caps had just lost in the 96th minute on a Kelvin Leerdam shot following a tidal surge of Sounders pressure in the waning moments, and the Caps coach was asked about losing in such a heartbreaking manner.

“If you look at the 19 interviews I’ve given after every game (this season), I never attack the ref,” he said. “But today, I’ll just say this: go see the last three minutes that leads to the goal of Seattle, and go count the amount of fouls that should have been called. A handball that wasn’t called. The foul on Yordy that wasn’t called. And then (Seattle) came wave after wave. But it has to be better. I never criticize refs, but you go watch the last three minutes and see it for yourself.”

His team looked exhausted by the final stages of the game, a squad that was playing with a short bench with five players away to international duty.

NEXT GAME

Saturday

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Los Angeles FC

7:30 p.m., Banc of California Stadium, TV: TSN 2; Radio: TSN 1410 AM

Seattle was missing five of their own — including designated players Raul Ruidiaz, midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, and Xavier Arreaga, along with key figures in winger Jordan Morris, midfielder Cristian Roldan and defender Román Torres — but hadn’t played a game since June 5. Vancouver had played three games in a week’s time.

“I felt that this third game in eight days — and I always come back to (this) – and this is very wrong, let’s educate everyone on that, that we’re playing league games while there’s the Gold Cup … it’s actually amateurish,” said Dos Santos, who has been without centrebacks Doneil Henry, Derek Cornelius, midfielder Russell Teibert and goalkeeper Max Crepeau since the end of May.

“We have to improve as a continent, as a nation … that you’re playing a competition during another competition. It’s not good for us, it’s not good for Seattle, and it’s not good for this environment and all those fans were here today.”

When asked how he was going to integrate the returning players into his lineup, Dos Santos, still inwardly seething, begged off.

“I’m an emotional guy. I can’t think about that now. We have a day off … let’s talk about it on Monday,” he said. “Sorry guys, I’m pissed. Next time.”

The loss ended a six-game unbeaten streak, although five of those results were ties. The Whitecaps (4-7-8) remained in ninth place in the West, four points behind Houston (7-6-3), who currently hold the last playoff berth with 24 points.

Vancouver has played more games than any other team in the conference, and their 1.05 points-per game average is lowest in the West, and third-lowest in MLS. And July’s schedule is gruelling with seven games to play, including two Canadian Championship matches against Calgary-based Canadian Premier League side Calvary FC.

It starts next Saturday at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, where LAFC will be itching for payback for March’s 1-0 loss at B.C. Place that spoiled their record unbeaten start to the year.

“We’ve found ourselves below the red line again, and now we need to find our way back over,” said goalkeeper Zac MacMath, who made seven saves in the game.

The Whitecaps have three clean sheets on the season — count Seattle and LAFC among those held off the scoresheet — but they’ve all come at home. Vancouver hasn’t recorded an away shutout since Sept. 30, 2017, when they beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0, a span of 28 games.

“A lot of our play was encouraging, so it was disappointing to come out with no points,” said Caps midfielder Andy Rose, who played his first game as a visitor at CenturyLink Field, having played 90 games over four seasons for Seattle.

We need to find a way to get more shutouts. To concede in the last minute like that is frustrating.

Seattle held a slight possession advantage Saturday, at 55 per cent, but outshot Vancouver 24-12, including 8-5 on target. But the Caps had eight scoring chances in the game, including a blast from Yordy Reyna that goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a magnificent stop to push over the bar, plus two other quality opportunities from Fredy Montero and Inbeom Hwang.

Looking at last year’s points totals, the Caps will have to net 30 points from their last 15 games to have a sniff at the playoff. And with just 20 points from their first 19 games, it will be a monumental task.

"It looks promising, but we'll have to see how the next 24 hours are going to be"

The transfer window opens on July 7, and improving their offence is high on the Whitecaps’ list of priorities, but there’s no guarantee the team can make a big splash on the market — nor even keep Ali Adnan, who’s been their best player this year. The left back’s fate is still unknown, even with his loan expiring on June 30.

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